Astronauts Admire Hurricane Katia from Above

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Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have had a
birds-eye view of the 2011 hurricane season, flying over and
snapping pictures of several storms. Hurricane Katia is no
exception, but luckily it isn't likely to cause much damage down
on the ground.

"Hurricane Katia may be no threat to U.S., so just enjoy beauty
of storm," tweeted astronaut Mike Fossum, who is living aboard
the orbiting laboratory until mid-November.

The most recent measurements of Katia showed that its winds had
decreased to 120 mph (195 kph), and the storm is expected to
fluctuate in strength over the next day or so, before weakening
below major hurricane status around Thursday, according to the
National Hurricane Center.

Despite early worries that Katia could deal the U.S. East Coast,
still
reeling from the impacts of Irene, another blow, the storm
looks like it will churn up between the Eastern Seaboard and
Bermuda before
curving back out to sea. Katia isn't expected to directly
threaten any land areas, though a tropical storm watch has been
issued for Bermuda and surf conditions could be rough along the
East Coast.

Hurricane Katia is the second hurricane to form during the 2011
hurricane season, which has been predicted to spawn an
above-average 14 to 19 named storms (which include tropical
storms and hurricanes), seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five
major hurricanes. An average Atlantic hurricane season will see
11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. August
through October are the peak months of the Atlantic hurricane
season.